Ladder



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,483

H. ROSENBERG LADDER Filed Deo. 12', 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29,1925. 1,555,483 H. ROSENBERGy LADDER Filed Deo. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Ww zu a www M l fm m M Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES HEYMAN ROSENBEBG, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

LADDER.

Application led December 12, 1923. Serial No. 880,195.

To all whom t may cofrwem.' v

Be it known that-I, HEYMAN RosENnERo, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders of the type usually emloyed for household purposes, and common y referred to as step ladders.

The r1rnary object in view is the production ofpsuch a ladder which ischaracterized by its lightness, durability, efficient operation,sanitation and inexpensiveness of construction.

With this and further objects in view as will in part hereinafter becomeapparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novelconstructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequentlyspecified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a ladder embodyin the featuresof the present invention, e parts being shown; in dotted lines in theirfolded position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary section taken on the planeindicated by line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 .is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a fragment of the platform.. y

Figure 6 is a vertical sect1on taken on the Iplane indicated by line 6 6of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of a fragment of one of the treads.

Figure 8 is a vertical section therethrough taken on the plane indicatedby line. 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on the plane indicatedby line 9 9 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the side barsconnected by the treads 2 and pivotally engaging the platform or table3, which latter 1s in turn 1votally connected with the legs 4. The egs 4are connected near their lower extremities by the cross bar 5, which ispreferably stiffened and strengthened by corner fillets or brackets 6,6, fixed t0 the bar 5, and to the respective legs 4. The legs 4 and theside bars 1 are preferably formed channelshaped in cross section, beingcomprised preferablyr of relatively light gauge commercial c annelirons. The bar 5 is preferably of angle iron and, as indicated in Figure1, is riveted or otherwise appropriately fixed to the outer flange ofthe respective channel irons 4 with the corner plates 6 interposedbetween such flange and bar 5. The channel irons 4 are also preferablyconnected by a tie strap 7 riveted or otherwise appropriately fixed tothe outer flanges of the channels 4, and disposed at an appropriatepoint in the length of the channel irons 4 intermediate their upper endsand the bar 5.

Each channel iron 1 and 4 at its lower end is provided with a cushioningdevice 8, preferably of rubber or the like, appropriately anchoredwithin the channel for enabling noiseless movement and positioning ofthe ladder. There may be as many treads 2 as desirable, according to thelength of the ladder, and each consists of a plate having a dependingflange extending around all of its edges, which flanges, at the ends,are riveted or otherwise appropriately anchored to the web of therespective channel irons or side bars 1. In order to enable the plateforming each of the treads 2 to be of greater width than the width ofthe respective side bar 1, each of said plates is formed with anextension 9 at each end, reduced so as to be of a width equalapproximately to the width of the space between the flanges of therespective side bar or channel iron 1, and the pendent flange of thetread plate is set at that angle with respect to the upper surface ofthe plate corresponding to the angle of the side bars 1 from thevertical when in an operative position, so that the tread surface ofeach tread 2 is disposed horizontally when the ladder is in operativeposition, and at the same time the marginal flange at the places of theextensions 9 fits snugly against the flanges and web of the respectiveside bar or channel 1. The excess width of each tread plate beyond thewidth of the respective reduced extension 9 projects outward, and thusaffords a substantial footing. To insure avoidance of possible slippingon any of the treads 2, incident to the fact that they are formed ofmetal, each tread plate 1s provided with a plurality o f upstandlngprojections or cu -like formations indicated at 10, 10. The clrcularedges presented by the rojections 10 to the foot of the user of tlieladder insures a substantial grlpping action, and, where the soleleather is sufficiently pliable, the leather .partly enters the cups 10.A part of the air being thus exhausted from those cups, the cups w1llcause resistance to removal of the foot to an extent sufficient toassist in preventing slipping. Therefore, the miniature cups 10 mayproperly be referred to as vacuum cups. For purposes of finish and alsoto aid 1n preventing slipping, la marglnal bead .or ridge 11 ispreferably formed about the tread surface of each tread 2. The bead 11and the cups 10 are preferably formed by shaping the material of whichthe tread 2 is made, as, for example, by stamping the same in theinstance of the tread material being of sufficient light gauge andcharacter of sheet metal.

The table or platform 3 at the top of the ladder preferably consists ofa sheet of metal formed with non-slipping or vacuum cups 12, and amarginal ridge or bead 13, corresponding respectively to the cups 10 andbead 11 of the treads. A marginal flange 14 depends from and iscontinuous of the edge of the platform 3. The platform 3 is, as has beenstated, hinged to both the side bars 1 and the\legs 4, the hingeconnection consisting of a pair of hinges, one at each side of the stepladder, that is, one at each end of the platform 3. Each of said hingesconsists of av leaf or plate 15 pivoted at 16 to a plate 17. Each plate15 consists of an angle bar with a relatively narrow horizontal webarranged at the upper edge of a relatively wide vertical web. Thehorizontal web of leaf 15, in each instance, is riveted or otherwiseappropriately anchored, as at 28, 28, to the respective end of platform3, while the vertical web of leaf 15 is pivoted at 19 to the web of therespective leg 4. The plate 17 consists of a similar angle plate toplate 15, though preferably slightly smaller, arranged with thehorizontal web extendin inward from the upper edge of the vertical web,with the latter riveted 0r otherwise appropriately anchored to the webof the upper end portion of the respectiveV side bar 1. The hinge leaves15 and 17 are arranged outside of the respective legs and side bars,and, in each instance, the leaf 15 is arranged in line with leaf 17, theleaf 17 being offset laterally inward for the length of the overlap ofthe leaf 15, as seen best in Figure 4. To facilitate formation of suchoffset, the horizontal web of leaf 17 is preferably cut away for thelength of the offset. The horizontal webs of the leaves 17, as bestseenin Figure 4, cover the up er end of the respective side bar 1 and, w enthe parts are in their unfolded position, are engaged by the undersurface of the platform or table 3, which, being the equivalent of asolid extension of leaves 15 serves as an effective stop for preventingfurther openin of the ladder. All of the parts are thus rmly held inposition when in the o en condition.

The egs 4 are connected with the side bars 1 by a brace adapted to lockthe parts against collapse when they are in their open or extendedposition, as seen in full lines in Fi re l, and the said brace consistsof a pair of rods 18, 18 arranged to cross each other and pivotedtogether at 18', at the point of crossing, each rod 18 having its endspivoted at 20 to one of the legs 4, and at 21 to one of the side bars 1.Each of the pivotal connections 20 and 21 is identical in structure, asseen in Figure 9, and consists of a projection 22 projecting through andsnugly fitting an aperture in the respective member of the ladder andretained in place by an appropriate head 23 swaged or pened thereon. Theextension 22 is reduced to provide an annular shoulder at the respectiveterminus of each rod 18 so as to insure against lateral play relative tothe engaged member, and, to increase the bearing, washers 24 may beprovided between the shoulder on the one hand and the head 23 on theother, and the intei-posed web of the respective member of the ladder.The end portion of each rod 18 is bent to form an extension 18" of alength equal approximately -to the width v of the flange of therespective engaged member of the ladder for enabling the rod to reachthe web of such member while leaving the brace made up of the two rods18 free for pivotal movement relative to the legs 4 and the side bars 1.

It will be observed that the pivots 21, as best seen in Figure 1, arealigned at one side of the vertical plane of the pivots 19, and thepivotal connections 20 are aligned at the opposite side of the verticalplane of pivots 16, so that pivotal movement of the brace made 4up oflbars 18 as an entirety is eccentric to pivotal movement of the leaves15 on the pivots 16. This eccentric movement causes the pivots 2O todescribe a greater arc when swinging to and from a collapsed positionthan would be described by them if thepivots 21 and 19 or 16 wereconcentric, whereby the brace made up of the rods 18 effectively resistsany collapsing stress and prevents accidental closing of the legs 4 onthe bars 1, while the ladder is in use. When it is desired to collapsethe parts, they may be caused to swing readily to the position indicatedin dotted'lines in Figure 1 by merely elevating the legs 4, so as toleave them free to swing downward and toward the side bars 1. Theincapacity of the legs 4 to swing downward while the ladder. is 'in useeffects a relative locking action of: the ivoted parts, so that thebrace made up of t e rods 18 is very effective in retaining the parts intheir roper positions during use.'

As all) parts of the ladder are designed and adapted for construction ofmetal, the ladder adapts itself readily to a finish, such as whiteenamel or the like, which facilitates perfect cleansing and insuressanitation.

What is claimed is 1. A ladder comprising side bars, a tread connectingthe same, legs articulated tothe sidel bars at the upper ends thereof toswin relative to the legs from an' open to a co apsed position, and abrace formed of rods connected together and having end portionspivotally' and permanently engagmg the legs and side bars for swingingto and from the collapsed position and for resisting opening. movementbeyond a normal open position and for at the same time resisting lateralspreading stresses on the bars and legs. v

2. A ladder comprising side bars of channel irons, a tread connectingthe side bars, hinges connected to the side bars at the end portionsthereof, a leaf of each hinge being free for pivotal movement relativeto the side bars, channel iron legs pivoted to the last-named leaves,anda plat orm of sheet metal fixed to the last-name leaves and having amarginal flange surroundin the hinges and the upper end portions 0%allel to the legs and side bars when collapsed with the marginal flangedisposed at one side of the legs.

3. A ladder comprising side bars, a tread connecting the side bars,legs, a platform pivotally connecting the legs to the side bars, and abrace pivoted to the side bars and legs in vertical planes outside .theplane of the pivotal connection, the brace being formed o f crossed rodseach bent laterally at each end portion and formed with a reducedextension projecting 'through the respective side bar or leg for forminpivotal connection therewith, and said race being adapted to remainpivotally connected to the legs and side bars as they are collapsed u oneach other incident to pivotingl relative to the platform.

4. A ladder comprising side bars, a tread connecting the side bars,legs, a platform pivotally connecting the legs and side bars, said legsand side bars being formed of channel iron each facing inward, and aswinging brace extending on an inclined plane from the side bars to thelegs and formed of crossed rods each bent at each end portion andextending laterally a distance greater than the width of the channel ofthe respective engaged member and through the web thereof for forming apermanent pivotal connection.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HEYMAN ROSENBERG.

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